At 30 June 2010, the estimated resident population of South Australia (SA) was 1.64 million people, which represented 7.4% of the total Australian population. The population increased by 20,100 people since June 2009. SA's growth rate for 2009-10 was 1.2%, the same as the average annual growth rate for the five years to June 2010. In 2009-10, SA had the second slowest state growth rate of all states and territories, behind Tasmania.

At June 2010, the population of Adelaide SD was 1.20 million which represented 73% of the total state population. In 2009-10, the population increased by 15,000 people or 1.3%, a rate slightly higher than the five year annual average to 2010 of 1.2%. The remainder of the state grew by 5,000 people or 1.2%.

In 2009-10, the six LGAs with the largest population increases were all within Adelaide SD. Onkaparinga (C), located in the city's south, and Salisbury (C), in the north, recorded the largest increases (both up 2,400 people). Playford (C), which adjoins Salisbury (C), followed with a population increase of 2,300, while Port Adelaide Enfield (C) increased by 1,700. These LGAs accounted for more than half (59%) of the population growth in the metropolitan area. No LGAs within Adelaide declined in population.

The fastest-growing LGA within Adelaide SD in 2009-10 was Playford (C) which increased by 3.0% to 79,900 people. This LGA has experienced a recent increase in growth as indicated by the difference between the 2009-10 growth rate (3.0%) and the five year annual average (2.3%). Conversely, the growth in inner-city Adelaide (C) markedly slowed from the five year annual average of 3.5% to 2.2% in 2009-10. Salisbury (C) grew by 1.8%, while Port Adelaide Enfield (C) grew by 1.6%.

Outer Adelaide SD

In 2009-10, Outer Adelaide SD recorded the highest growth rate of all SDs in the state, increasing by 2.0% (or 2,800 people). The fastest-growing LGAs in this SD were Alexandrina (DC) which grew by 3.0%, and Victor Harbor (C) (2.6%), both on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Light (RegC), located near the Barossa Valley to the north of Adelaide, grew by 2.3%, while Mount Barker (DC) in the eastern Mount Lofty Ranges grew by 2.2%. These four LGAs have been among the fastest-growing in the state for several years as indicated by their average annual growth rates which ranged from 2.4% to 2.7% for the five years to June 2010. No LGAs within Outer Adelaide recorded population decline.

During the year ending June 2010, Alexandrina (DC) had the largest population increase in Outer Adelaide (up by 700 people), followed by Mount Barker (DC) (660). The populations of Barossa (DC), Victor Harbor (C) and Light (RegC) increased by 380, 360 and 320 respectively.

In the 12 months to June 2010, the remainder of SA generally experienced smaller population increases than the Adelaide and Outer Adelaide SDs. South East SD and Yorke and Lower North SD both grew by 1.1%, with South East SD recording the largest increase in population of these two SDs (710 and 510 people respectively). The growth in South East SD was largely attributable to the LGA of Mount Gambier (C) in the state's far south-east, which recorded an increase of 1.6%. Other LGAs to experience fast growth were Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AC) (2.1%) in Northern SD, Lower Eyre Peninsula (DC) (2.0%) and Copper Coast (DC) (1.8%) on the upper Yorke Peninsula.

In 2009-10, Mount Gambier (C) also recorded the largest population increase (400 people) for a LGA outside of the Adelaide and Outer Adelaide SDs. Copper Coast (DC), and Whyalla (C) in the mid-north of SA, grew by 240 and 170 respectively.

Population decline

Around one-fifth of LGAs in the remainder of SA decreased in population during 2009-10, however, none decreased by more than 30 people. The largest decline was in Northern Areas (DC), in the mid-north (down 30 people), followed by The Coorong (DC) and Karoonda East Murray (DC) (both down 20), in the Murray Lands. Other LGAs to experience smaller population declines in 2009-10 were Southern Mallee (DC) in the south-east of the state and Elliston (DC) on the Eyre Peninsula.

The population density of SA at June 2010 was 1.7 people per square kilometre (sq km), a slight increase from 1.6 people per sq km in 2009. Most of the state had a very low population density, with 28 SLAs (comprising 92% of the state's total area) having less than one person per sq km. While the population density of SA was the third lowest of all states and territories, Adelaide SD had the highest of all capital city SDs at 660 people per sq km. This was an increase from 650 people per sq km in 2009.

The most densely populated SLAs within Adelaide SD at June 2010 were Unley (C) - East which adjoins Adelaide (C) to the south and Holdfast Bay (C) - North on the coast (both 2,900 people per sq km). This was followed by Prospect (C) (2,700), which also borders the city of Adelaide.

The SLAs in Adelaide SD with the largest increases in density between June 2009 and June 2010 were the adjoining Playford (C) - West Central (up 80 people per sq km) and Playford (C) - East Central (up 40), followed by Unley (C) - East (up 30).

Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.